Shoe rack



15, 1946. s. GERLICH v 2 09,

SHOE RACK Filed Oct. 5, 1945 L' 9 ,I I 19 19 ,1 2 ?1 24 20 20 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE RACK Stephen Gerlich, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 5, 1945, Serial No. 620,415

Claims. 1

My invention relates to a rack for supporting shoes which are to be put away when not worn, the said rack being primarily directed to the type which will support; a shoe and permit the air currents to circulate thereunder, also thereabove, as well as all around the shoe, in order to permit it to dry quickly from th perspiration that may .have accumulated within the texture during wear.

Another object of my invention is to produce a unit rack made preferably of wire material, and

to provide means in the said rack for connecting or attaching an additional rack or for stringing up the said shoe racks in multiple arrangement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shoe rack of the aforementioned character, in which two articulately hinged supports are motivated to an angular position for supporting a pair of shoes, the said support being collapsible so that the entire unit is fiat and compact for shipment thus also occupying the minimumof space when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shoe rack of the aforementioned character which is practical in construction, eificient for the purposes and uses to which it may be applied, and one of such simple elemental structure as to make possible economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other features and ancillary objects of my invention may be readily deduced from the showings embraced in' the accompanying drawing, taken in consideration with the ensuing description, wherein like parts are designated by like symbols; and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a unit of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of that portion of my invention which shows the limited articulate motion ascribed to the movable support element.

Referring to the various views, my invention is, generally, designated 4, and it consists of a main support element provided with a U shaped bent portion 5 having a recessed portion 6 which may be secured against a wall, or other flat surface or support, by virtue of screws or any other similar securing means. The said U shaped attaching portion 5 at its termini is resolved into an arouate head portion 7, and contiguously formed at the termini of the arcuate ortion 1 are the angularly formed portions 8, bent inwardly and connected to parallel side leg portions 9 which terminate in the end portions [2, each bent into loop portions l3 and [4 being secured firmly together by soldering or spot welding It. The upper portion of the formed loops [3 is, preferably, indented as indicated at it to form a suitable seat for the attaching means 5 to seat therein when another shoe rack is attached to the first shoe rack to be co-extensive therewith. It is to be noted that the loop portion provides an upper and a lower locating portion for the slotted portion 6 of the second unit 4 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus preventing lateral displacement and furnishing lateral location. 7

The sides 9 are provided with a pair of loop or eye portions I6 and another pair of eye portions i I being in transversal relationship with the side portions 9. The auxiliary support elements [8 are also provided with arcuate head portions and are provided with two inwardly bent portions I9, and two upright leg portions 28, terminating in eyes 2| in the plane of the leg portions 20, so that when th eyes 2| are secured to the eyes I0 and H the forward portions ll of the eyes In and II will act as a stop, limiting the angular motion of the elements I8 and confining the movement thereof to an angl of substantially 45 degrees,

. which may be collapsed to a co-incidental or superimposed position on the main element to which it is hingedly secured. The shoe 22, provided with the heel 23 and sole 24, is caused to rest in a fashion indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus the shoe is subjected to a permeation of the air currents throughout, hence the overall texture of the shoe material will be caused to dry more rapidly. The shoes will be maintained off the floor where they are customarily kept, and thus will be prevented from absorbing additional moisture or dirt which is found on floor surfaces.

While it has been stated that wire is preferable for construction and manufacture, yet a range of plastic materials of varied colors may also be used.

Altho the rack has been illustrated to hold one pair of shoes, the device may, nevertheless, be made to hold several pairs of shoes per unit 4.

I believe, I have described rather succinctly the construction of my invention, and inasmuch as it is susceptible of modifications and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all modifications and improvements coming within the scope and spirit of my invention, as well as those embraced in the accompanying drawing, and also those that fall within the purview of the foregoing description.

Having thus described and revealed my inportion at the upper and inner corner thereof.

2. A shoe rack comprising, a main support element provided with a head portion having a fastening and locating U shaped portion and two leg portions provided with integrally formed transverse pivotal loop portions oppositely disposed and terminating in an interconnecting portion adapted to locate and retain the fastening and locating U shaped portion of a second shoe rack in depending co-extensive relationship, the said interconnecting portion being of four sided formation and provided with a depressed seating portion at the upper and inner corner thereof, and at least one auxiliary support element articulately secured to the said main support element having limited articulate movement within an ambit of substantially 45 and arranged to confine a shoe in the apices of the assemblage.

3. A shoe rack comprising, a main support element provided with a head ortion having a fastening and locating U shaped portion and two leg portions provided with integrally formed transverse pivotal loop portions oppositely disposed and terminating in an interconnecting portion adapted to locate and retain the fastening and locating U shaped portion of a second shoe rack in depending co-extensive relationship, the said interconnecting portions being of four sided formation and provided with a depressed seating portion at the upper and inner corner thereof, and at least one auxiliary support element articulately secured to the said main support element having limited articulate movement within an ambit of substantially 45 and arranged to confine a shoe in the apices of the assemblage, the said auxiliary support element including a head portion, side leg portions emanating from the said head portion, and eye portions secured to the said transverse 100p portions.

4. A shoe rack comprising, a main support element provided with a head portion having a fastening and locating U shaped portion and two leg portions provided with integrally formed transverse pivotal loop portions oppositely disposed and terminating in an interconnecting portion adapted to locate and retain the fastening and locating U shaped portion of a second shoe rack in depending co-extensive relationship, the said interconnecting portion being of four sided formation and provided with a depressed seating portion at the upper and inner corner thereof, and at least one auxiliary support element articulately secured to the said main support element having limited articulate movement within an ambit of substantially 45 and arranged to confine a shoe in the apices of the assemblage, the forward portions of the said transverse loop portions serving to arrest the movement of the said auxiliary support element in extreme open formation.

5. A shoe rack comprising, a main support element provided with a head portion having a fastening and locating U shaped portion and two leg portions provided with integrally formed transverse pivotal loop portions oppositely disposed and terminating in an interconnecting portion adapted to locate and retain the fastening and locating U shaped portion of a second shoe rack in depending co-extensive relationship, the said interconnecting portion being of four sided formation and provided with a depressed seating portion at the upper and inner corner thereof, and at least one auxiliary support element articulately secured to the said main support element having limited articulate movement Within an ambit of substantially 45 and arranged to confine a shoe in the apices of the assemblage, the said auxiliary support element including a head portion, side leg portions emanating from the said head portion, and eye portions secured to the said transverse loop portions, the forward portions of the said transverse loop portions serving to arrest the movement of the said auxiliary STEPHEN GERLICH. 

